/**/
This post is too late for Warriorwoman's contest - drunk blogging. And that's okay. I just won't have the chance to win one of her pentagrams, even though I'd really like to win one. I've really wanted to say all of what I say here (and more) for some time. I just haven't been able to articulate it properly. I'm not sure I've said it all properly yet - this paragraph is being added after the rest of the post has been prepared.

The blog365 goal is and was to blog every day for "One lap around the Sun". Some time back the founder, the leader, of blog365 dropped out. I guess it wasn't fun anymore. I guess there was too much of a feeling of obligation. And maybe he was so busy and so involved that he didn't have any time to sit back and enjoy himself. Maybe he never had time to make any friends. Like I have.

This lap around the Sun, as of today, is two thirds gone. Four months left. Eight months in the bag. There is a finish line out there. It's December 31st. The last day of 2008. But I won't be done. Not me.

There is a whole pantheon of people here, some of whom are reading this, today, people I have never met, some of whom I will never meet, that have come to mean a great deal to me. Some of them have made me cry. Me. Mr. Macho. Sits here at the computer and, at times, blubbers like a baby. Some of them have made me laugh. Out loud. In inappropriate places. Where people look at me funny. And we ALL have shared intimate moments and feelings with each other, to the point, I swear, that some of the people, here, know me better than anyone but my wife. And the people here, care.

There are people here I love. Strange love, it is, when you've not met the person you're in love with and strange, too, that you suddenly find you love many people, when all of your life you've been told that love is held only for one. Strange it is and hard to accept when it puts lie to things you've been told all your life. But it is love, nonetheless. It's just strange.

I don't plan to quit come December 31st. I think I'm going to keep on going. I won't give up what I have found here. Not the people. Not the caring. Not the love. I just hope I don't run out of things to write about. And I hope you never run out of interest in what I have to say.

Oh. And the 800 pound gorilla in the room. The thing that brought me out here in the first place. My Art. From the bottom of my heart, which you guys have constantly filled with joy, I thank you for the kindesses you have shown the work I've displayed here and on the other blog. Thank you for the enthusiastic encouragement.

And thank you, for the love.

28 comments:

Jientje said...

It's good to know you won't quit when the year is done.
This 365, lap around the sun, has brought some unexpected and amazing new things into my life as well.

Strange huh?
I know.

Shadow said...

you echo many of my sentiments here. i'm not a blog365'er. but i blog (mostly) every day. because i like to blog, to write, have fun here, meet people, see what's happening to you guys out there. i've met so many wonderful souls, you being one of them, who inspire and make me laugh. to now turn around and stop... that would be like leaving a friend behind. nah, i think i'll just happily carry on visiting my friends the way i am...

Myst_72 said...

Well said, beautifully written as always Lou.

You know blogging is really a big part of your life when you think of people and blogs you've read when you're not in front of the computer!
Or when you catch yourself saying to friends/family "A lady I know in Canada says....".

G
xx

Casdok said...

Im sure you will never run out of things to say.
There is much love shared from bloggers. Long may it continue.

Anonymous said...

Drunk blogging is dumb anyway. I just did it as an exercise. It's the community of bloggers we get to connect with that makes it special. It seems that a lot of us visit the same blogs.

Anonymous said...

Ah, Lou, my favourite flirt - you write it so well.

Christy said...

Ahhh!

I feel the same when I blog, Lou.

I have full-blown relationships, almost, sans the touching.

I even get jealous, pissy, horny.....one guy even called me a tease! (Gotcha!)

I'm glad you are keeping going after the official end to the project......

I'd miss it.

Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba) said...

Sniffle, sniffle, sniffle. Beautifully said, Lou.

Two months after saying I was giving myself permission to give up Blog 365, I'm still posting every day. Being willing to let it go made it more fun again (most days).

Blog 365 has been very good to me, too. :)

Manager Mom said...

What a great post. It's funny, isn't it, how blogging brings so many unexpected things into one's life. And different things for different bloggers. I've had cathartic experiences, learned new things, made friends in real life. It's a beautiful thing.

moneythoughts said...

You have given as much enjoyment as you have received. In fact, I would be willing to bet that you have given more than you have received. Everyone that reads your blog enjoys you, your writer's personality and your ideas. It is good for others to know that you have gotten so much from the effort you put in. Like so many writers and painters we will never meet, it is great that we can enjoy and learn from them even if we will never meet them.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you won't give up daily blogging. You're an addiction.

Just yesterday I was trying, again, to explain to my family and friends about the people *I know* from all over this country and several other countries. I try not to talk about it to 'outsiders' because they just look at me funny. Honestly, I'd consider my bloggy friends better friends than the people who I HAVE met in real life and have called my friend for a decade or more.

Beautifully written, Lou.

Elizabeth said...

It's amazing the types of friendships that we forge through blogging. And I am constantly thrilled that I have them all. :)
*hugs*

Alice said...

Yo babe.

It is a strange love isn't it?

I feel like I lost half of my friends when this whole job silliness started.

I'm looking forward to seeing your piece for HyphenMamma and will gently nudge you to work on the steamy plane scene. ; )

Come on... I've already read all the smut on my bookshelves.

Melissa said...

Yeah, people look at me funny when I talk about "people I know" from lots of places. :)

But blogging is fun and creative. Blog on!

Anonymous said...

I don't think I could have said it any better Lou. You hit the proverbial nail right on the head. I have to disagree with you on your ending. People aren't going to stop reading and visiting you if you post every other day. When this challenge is over and done with, don't feel like you NEED to post just for the sake of it. It's your blog after all, and we're here for you, not the other way around.

Joyce-Anne said...

Awwww, that was sweet. Lou, you really have a way with words. I'm glad you're not planning of "retiring" from blog writing anytime soon. I've said it before, but I'll say it again I'm addicted. I don't do drugs, alcohol (well, sometimes in certain family situations...) or smoke, your blog is my crack addiction. Btw, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Jientje said...

Only 546 pictures to go.
I think painting is faster sometimes!
Night night, love ya!

Unknown said...

jientje: Good night, Princess.

Tara R. said...

Nicely said. I'm glad our paths crossed too... {{hugs}} mwah!

Eric S. said...

Lou, I'm glad your not going to quit. I don't know how you manage a post everyday, but you do and I admire you for it. The thing is you always post a quality story or article, and to be able to do that every day is a gift. I don't think you'll ever have to worry about loosing your readers, they are very dedicated to the WRITER.

Thanks for the encouraging words.

Anonymous said...

Right back at you, baby.
MWAH!

Momisodes said...

I was JUST thinking about this today :) You and I? Something about great minds, right? ;)

So glad that you've stuck it out through Blog365. I nearly missed my first post today. Nearly. I hope to join you at the finish line in December. But more importantly, I hope it will only be the beginning of a new chapter for us and so many others here :)

Anonymous said...

The blogging world would be a sad place indeed if you would stop blogging after December.
And I promise, I won't loose interest in what you have to say and show.
I also doubt that you'll ever have nothing much to say ;)
*hugs*!

Expat No. 3699 said...

I hadn't heard of blog365 until just now, not that I'd be able to keep up. I'm happy that I've been able to post Monday - Friday. Recently I haven't even been able to keep up with all the blogs I read on a daily basis, but I do go back on each one a catch up.

And so you know, Lou, your my first...first blog I read each day.

Toodles~

Crimzen Creative said...

The passion for art brings out the writer in a lot of us and that is why we stick with it....to find common ground or others who can appreciate our work. I am glad to have you as a blogging friend and hope you'll stick around.

Zoeyjane said...

I'm so impressed that you've made it eight months! I was thisclose to signing up and figured I wouldn't finish it. Can you hear that? I'm applauding.

Holly said...

Wow, day and in a day out adds up!

"Drunk blogging sober" -- heh heh!

Anonymous said...

You're a sweetheart, and here's some love back at ya!